Promotion's the priority

WREXHAM chairman Mark Guterman has re-affirmed that promotion remains the top priority for his third division outfit, despite excitement and a high level of interest in next month's Worthington Cup clash against Premiership visitors Everton.

WREXHAM chairman Mark Guterman has re-affirmed that promotion remains the top priority for his third division outfit, despite excitement and a high level of interest in next month's Worthington Cup clash against Premiership visitors Everton.

The Racecourse supremo, who took control of the club during the summer, said the prospect of bumper receipts from the second round tie on Tuesday, October 1 was a bonus, but he urged supporters not to take their eye off the ball.

He said: "Our main aim is to get back into the second division at the first attempt and we want as many fans as possible supporting us in that cause, rather than just because we have an attractive one-off cup-tie.

"I want people to come along and enjoy the Everton game but I also want to see those same faces getting behind us against Exeter City and Bury.

"The money from a big gate will be very welcome but I want supporters passing through the turnstiles with the prospect of seeing another great game of football.

"If we were to beat Everton and then draw Manchester United away in the third round then you would see me starting to talk about a cash bonanza. For the moment, though, the football is the most important thing and the way we have been playing so far this season I don't think Everton will be overjoyed at the prospect of travelling to the Racecourse."

Wrexham have missed out on additional television revenue after Sky opted to screen the Chesterfield v West Ham United and Leyton Orient v Birmingham ties, but that increases the likelihood of a potential Racecourse sellout, particularly if the club can accommodate the huge demand from visiting supporters.

Dragons' boss Denis has already put the Everton game to the back of his mind, concentrating instead on the challenge posed by tonight's third division visitors, Exeter City.

He is hoping to name an unchanged side for the third time in eight days, a spell that has brought wins over first division Bradford City and Welsh rivals Swansea City, but will wait for fitness checks today on striker Andy Morrell and midfielder Paul Barrett.

"Neither of them trained today," he said yesterday. "But they both have only minor knocks and I'm confident they should be OK.

"Apart from that the only other change concerns Steve Thomas, who has turned his ankle and will be replaced in the squad by Mark Jones."

A second successive home win would push Wrexham right back into contention at the top of the table, which is where Smith wants to be. "I have not wavered since the beginning of the season when I said we would finish in the top six," he said.

"I'd like to finish top, obviously, but while other people have expressed doubts about what I said, I've been constant in my belief. Things are coming together and, with Brian Carey and Lee Jones both due to play in the reserves this

week after injury, the squad is getting stronger."

And Smith believes that he is close to achieving a level of consistency in performances that has been lacking in Wrexham sides during the past few years.

"Andy Morrell is one of the leading scorers in the league, we know Lee Trundle can score goals and if Hector Sam carries on playing like he is, that's consistent," he said.

"We had a good pre-season and we did well in our first four games. While Rochdale was one of those things that happens to everyone and we had a poor performance at Torquay, I can't see that losing two games in however many is inconsistent.

"We have had two good wins on the trot and if we can carry that on tomorrow I will be very satisfied."

Exeter City boss, John Cornforth, welcomes back former Wolves' striker Don Goodman tonight after he missed Saturday's 1-1 draw at Bristol Rovers with a leg injury.

Wrexham's teenage central defender Craig Morgan has been selected for a Wales under-19 training camp in Llanelli next week and another Racecourse scholar, Simon Spender, has been placed on stand-by.